The FIA has shared details of track changes at Jeddah for F1 Saudi Arabian GP along with the DRS zones, stewards and more.
With Niels Wittich remaining as the FIA Race Director, he has shared the important details for this weekend’s F1 Saudi Arabian GP. The track limits remains the white lines around the track and naturally the walls considering it is a street circuit.
In terms of the DRS zones, the first one’s detection zone is on the exit of Turn 17 while the activation zone sits on the exit of Turn 19. The second’s detection zone is on the entry to Turn 22 and activation is on the entry to Turn 25.
In a slight change, the detection of the third is on exit of Turn 27 rather on entry as per last year. This is to not make it easy for drivers to re-pass straight up after the tactics were exploited by multiple drivers in the last couple of F1 grands prix.
The activation points remains at 170m after Turn 27. Apart from the DRS zone revision, the Jeddah circuit has a long list of changes made as the FIA continues the push to make it safer after several discussions with the F1 drivers and teams about safety.
Here’s the whole list of changes as per FIA –
• Turn 3: Painted kerb.
• Turn 4: Steel plate removed.
• Turn 5: The existing mobile steel kerb has been replaced by a permanent concrete bevelled kerb.
At the back of the kerb an asphalt transmission has been constructed with not more than 4%
inclination.
• Turn 8: New alignment of wall, offset to old wall 7.80 m.
• Turn 8: The existing mobile steel kerbs (apex and exit) have been replaced by a permanent
concrete bevelled kerb.
• Turn 10: New alignment of wall, offset to old wall 9.40 m.
• Turn 10: The existing mobile steel kerbs (apex and exit) has been replaced by a permanent
concrete bevelled kerb.
• Turn 11: A row of grey TECPRO Barriers have been installed at the inside of Turn 11 exit on drivers
left from the vehicle opening to the end of the track light posts.
• Turn 11: A “Rumble strip” has been added behind to the verge at RHS.
• Turn 14: New alignment of wall, offset to old wall 5.80 m.
• Turn 14: Painted kerb and “rumble strip” has been added to the verge.
• Turn 16: Steel plate removed.
• Turn 17: The existing mobile steel kerb has been replaced by a permanent concrete bevelled kerb.
• Turn 19: A painted kerb and “rumble line” has been added in the verge.
• Turn 20: New alignment of wall, offset to old wall 3.70 m.
• Turn 20: Painted kerb and “rumble strip” has been added to the verge.
• Turn 21: Painted kerb and “rumble strip” has been added to the verge.
• Turn 22: Steel plate removed.
• Turn 22/23: Turn 22 starts approx. 10 m later, Turn 23 moved by approx. 5 m. The existing mobile
steel kerbs have been replaced by a permanent concrete bevelled kerb. This is the only layout
modification.
• Turn 24: Steel plate removed.
Moving on to the FIA stewards list, the panel will be led by Nish Shetty and he will be assisted by Mathieu Remmerie, Enrique Bernoldi and Hassan Alabdali.
Here’s the full FIA Race Directors’ note: https://www.fia.com/sites/default/files/decision-document/2023%20Saudi%20Arabian%20Grand%20Prix%20-%20Race%20Director’s%20Event%20Notes.pdf
Here’s news on Max Verstappen arriving late
